I'm a young American woman in Milan...and you're not. I go to La Scala a lot...and you don't.

Anna Netrebko

June 13, 2013

As Netrebko teases her first solo, studio disc
in five years, we toast its photoshoppy cover with our own grumpy-sourced version. Slated for an American launch at the end of August, the
Russian soprano sings Lady Macbeth, Leonora, Elena, Elisabetta and a
Trovatore duet with Rolando Villazón.

May 22, 2013

Chopard brand ambassador Anna Netrebko skipped town between Donna Anna replications at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden to tread the red carpet on day seven of Cannes.

She was invited to the showing of Soderbergh's Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra with other Chopard faces such as Petra Nemcova and Kylie Minogue. Above, she poses with Chopard briefcases Caroline Scheufele and Alexis Veller.

August 04, 2012

Just when you thought that the Russian diva had nothing else to share, Netrebko aired out her couture (Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace) in a seasonal show-and-tell for June's edition of Tatler Russia. Technicolor-dyed furs, exaggerated bling and bold prints, there's just one word for it. Ooooo that was way harsh, Tai.

July 31, 2012

Attention Mall Shoppers: Thirty-seven year old Venezian opera director Damiano Michieletto's idea for La Bohème -- opening tomorrow night at the Salzburg Festival with Beczala as Rodolfo, Trebs as Mimì and Machaidze as Musetta -- is Paris as a cross-section framed within Google Maps and dropped into a mall. The young bohemians are mallrats who live in "a glorious age of illusion and utopias, like children, irresponsible. Rodolfo is snappy and irritable and Mimi is fragile." Judging by costumes, it's set in the ~other~ mall where kids clocked each other with masterlocks and stole from Hot Topic, Spenser's and Chess King.

Tomorrow night's la prima will start at 7:00pm on Radio3, streaming live from the Grosses Festspielhaus, featuring interviews with Michieletto and Gatti on the podium with the Wiener Philharmoniker. All photos Silvia Lelli.

October 16, 2011

A couple days ago while OC was in Stockholm partying with the unsinkable Maestro Muti, his bionic heart and Sweden's H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf for the maestro's win of the 2011 Birgit Nilsson Prize, La Netrebko was in NYC at The Metropolitan Opera House to sign autographs and her new CD for her devoted fans.

July 23, 2011

The Russian soprano and Uruguayan baritone bask in the cover-story spotlight of Corriere della Sera's Io Donna in an article called "Viviamo d'Arte, Viviamo d'Amore" which the "superstar couple of opera" spoke in ways that would make Romeo & Juliet blush, accompanied by pull quotes like (all translations are property of OC kthnxbi):

"The opera that we interpret best? Our love story. Full of jealousy like a melodrama, and full of romantic banquets (if Erwin cooks)"

...and...

"They're gorgeous, bravi and glam: Called the 'Brad and Angelia of Opera' but their feet are on the ground. And in the final hours before their first tour together -- between a kiss or two -- they confess. Playful jokes included."

The article opened with a description of the photo shoot in Paris where the chemistry between the two was described as "sparkling magic", playful as lovesick teenagers (Schrott is 39 and Anna will be 40 in September) to which Anna (described as "today's star of bel canto") responded, "It's our normal life -- this is."

Called "la coppia piu' bella dell'Opera" where "mi amor" was batted between the two, they held nothing back, including their sex life (sex-havers having sex):

Russian, English, Spanish -- What's the language you guys speak?

Erwin: We speak in English with a bit of Russian and a bit of Spanish.Anna: To Tiago I speak Russian and Erwin speaks Spanish.

In moments of love?

Erwin: Spanish, naturally.

You live in both Vienna and New York, but where is home?

Erwin: Wherever she is.Anna: Wherever he is.

And Anna spoke about her curves:

You guys are the proof that vocal force doesn't depend on big bodies. Anna, they define you as "Audrey Hepburn with a voice" like that which Callas aspired to.

Anna: No no, i'm the opposite of Callas. Callas wanted to become Hepburn after she was robust. Fifteen years ago I was a tiny little thing, now I'm "piu rotonda" but I love myself like this. Above all, Erwin loves me more like this (she turns to Erwin and says, "Isn't that right, mi amor?" and the two start again with the kissing, and Erwin makes gestures of huge approval --ndr.]

Anna: My real problem is that Erwin's a huge talent in the kitchen and I like to eat.

Erwin: For years I helped my dad in his restaurant. Now I have a dream to open a restaurant in Vienna.

In the recent spell of Netrebko re-branding (personally, we're all for Netrebko 2.0 and encourage all of our perfume-launching, restaurant-opening, crossover-embracing opera singers), if we see Trebs snuggling up to Jusin Bieber (like Kim Kardashian did), don't count us as surprised.

July 01, 2011

Mandarin Oriental, Munich invites music lovers to spend a memorable evening filled with opera, glamour and Michelin starred cuisine, and the opportunity to rub shoulders with world-class opera stars. Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko, who has enchanted audiences worldwide with her beautiful and distinctive voice, joins forces with magnificent bass-baritone Erwin Schrott and legendary tenor Jonas Kaufmann in a world class open air concert at Konigsplatz on 29 July. The programme will include arias from Verdi’s ‘I Lombardi’ or Puccini’s ‘Manon Lescaut’.

The evening will begin with cocktails and canapés on Mandarin Oriental, Munich’s stunning China Moon Roof Terrace with magical 360 degree views over the city and Alps beyond. From here, guests will make their way to the Konigsplatz in chauffeured limousines to enjoy one of the most eagerly awaited concerts of the year.

Following the performance, Mandarin Oriental, Munich invites guests to feast on a delicious three course gala dinner paired with wines, at the Michelin starred restaurant Mark’s, with Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott as the guests of honour. Delicacies will include:

January 15, 2011

I am energetic as soon as I get up, and immediately I’m cooking breakfast because I want to eat! I make kasha for my son; it’s like oatmeal with milk. I have my Starbucks coffee with sugar and milk, and then I make eggs. I can make eggs 15 different ways. With tomato. With cheese. I like to put cheese on the bread and toast it in the oven. Nothing sweet in the morning unless my husband is here; then he’s the chef, and he makes a big breakfast, and it’s very dangerous for me because I’m trying to stay in shape.

December 17, 2010

Anna Netrebko tried to bring her game face to a recent press conference -- but then she decided to thrown on a pair of sunnies instead. The Russian soprano joined the cast of the Royal Danish Theatre in an indoor press call to hype the current run of La Boheme at the Copenhagen opera house. Singing lead Mimi in two performances, Anna's making her house debut. Wait a sec...are those Erwin's shades? Unisecks was never so secksy! (AP photo & Joachim Adrian)

I'm reading Georgian writer Boris Akunin's series of 11 mystery novels focusing on the character Erast Fandorin. Fandorin is a fictional 19th-century Russian detective—like Sherlock Holmes but more interesting. The books are well-written, entertaining, and not overly intellectual, which makes them perfect summer reading. I am reading them in their native Russian, but English translations are available.

Dang! We wonder where the Russian superstar even finds time to practice singing...

May 26, 2010

The big 2011-2012 season opener at la Scala, the classic "prima" of December 7, 2011, was supposed to be Lucia di Lammermoor with Anna Netrebko, directed by Robert Carsen -- Scala GM Stephane Lissner had indicated last year in a newspaper interview that the rumor was true.

But there has been a slight change: Netrebko will indeed appear at la Scala, but she'll be Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, directed by Carsen, with Erwin Schrott as the Don.

May 24, 2010

Hundreds of residents were evacuated in Vienna yesterday (Sun) over fears their
apartment building might collapse.

Officials said the renters of the
100-odd apartments in Machstraße will be kept from returning until at least
tomorrow.

Experts feared the 50-year-old eight-storey building might come
down due to activities on a nearby construction site and massive permanent
rainfall. They decided to clear the house after noticing its subsoil becoming
unsteady.

March 28, 2010

Anna Netrebko shared the stage with Michelle Hunziker, Emma Thompson, Beth Ditto, Shakira, a guy who balances on eggs shells, and a few others on last night's Wetten, Dass..?. [full stop!!] American rock star Beth Ditto (above with Anna) stole the show by sitting onAlpine skiier Hansi Hinterseer's lap. Lesson learned: everyone needs to step up their game if they want to compete with Ditto, stylists included.

March 26, 2010

The Wall Street Journal now reports on the replacement: Anna's new digs. With a slideshow of ten images spanning from her bedroom to son Tiago's room.

Oh, and not that that we didn't know that already but there's somewhat bad news for her fans:

"Three years ago, singing, singing, singing is everything for me," said Ms. Netrebko, surrounded by a shifting group of publicists and friends and picking at a tray of takeout sushi on a dining table. "Now, no. I enjoy singing but it's just part of my life—besides decorating houses!"

October 27, 2009

Following-up on this post, we present you with twenty-two seconds of heaven. Oh, she's just being Anna...noddin' her head like yeah, movin' her hips like yeah.

Below, Bryn Terfel takes his turn. He's talking about some random Michael Jordan stuff, but if he's not shaking his hips like Netrebko, we're not listening. Harding, you're next! And it better be good! Then it's Hilary's turn. I'm Opera Chic -- make it happen!